Skylight and floorlight construction



.Mme l 9 n L.. W. MULFORD YLIGHT Arm FLOORLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed May15, 1924 ATTORNEYSY Patented June l, 1926.

UNITED STATES LOG-AN WILLARD MULFORD, OF LONG- ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

SKYLIGHT AND FLGORLIGHT CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 15, 192%. Serial No. 713,607.

In the building of skylightand floorlight constructions, a much strongerand more durable construction is provided if the supporting framework ismade of reinforced concrete and provided with lens receiving openings.

A further advantage is obtained when a cast iron or sheet metal lensholder is employed to receive the lenses.

Ithas heretofore been customary and been deemed necessary to employ inconjunction with such a holder, a lens of molded glass, which isexpensive to manufacture and which is liable to break in service andthus require replacement. If a lens holder is not employed, and theglass set directly in the concrete, the glass is liable to becomefractured while it is set directly in the concrete` as the glass has adifferent coeiiicient of expansion from that of the rest of theconstruction. The replacement of these lenses, while they are setdirectly in the concrete is expensive as it requires a skilled workmanto remove the broken lens and replace a new one.

In accordance with my present invention, I dispense with the necessityof using a molded glass and am enabled to employ a lens made from asheet of rolled annealed glass or rolled annealed wire glass of thetype, wherein during the rolling of the sheet glass, wire mesh isembedded between the top and bottom surfaces of the sheet. therebygreatly increasing the strength of the sheet anc.I preventing the flyingof the .pieces in case the glass becomes fractured or broken.

By such construction, I can produce a tloorlight and skylightconstruction, wherein the strength of the resultant construction ismaterially increased and at less cost, since the lens of suchconstruction is more economical than the lens of molded glass, since thelenses can be formed from broken sheets of wire glass, which is a wasteproduct, as the broken sheets are too small to be utilized for otherpurposes.

My invention further consists in roughening or serrating the inner faceof the vertical wall of the lens holder, whereby the sealing compoundmore effectively adheres thereto.

My invention further consists in causing the terminals of the wire meshwhich is embedded in the rolled annealed glass lens to project a shortdistance from the edges of the lens whereby the lens is more eiiectivelysecured in position.

It further consists in coating the edges of the rolled annealed glasslens, either plain or wired, with a suitable material, which will causethe elastic or sealing compound contacting therewith properly to adherethereto, to make a water proof joint and also to prevent the lens frombecoming loosened.

It further consists of the novel combination of a rolled annealed glasslens having its edges coated with a suitable material of the characterstated, in conjunction with a sealing compound and a lens holder havingits vertical wall serrated or roughened so as to inter-lock with saidsealing compound.

IVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will hereinafterclearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel construction of askylight and loorlight construction of the character state-d, which canbe economically manufactured and which will be stronger and more durablethan constructions of this general type as heretofore manufactured.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafterappear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawing embodiments thereof which are at present preferredby me, since they will be found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of' which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described.

Figures l, 2, 3, i and 5 represent vertical sectional views of askylight or iioorlight construction embodying my invention.

Figure 6 represents a perspective view of a portion or corner of thewired glass lens which I employ.

Figure 7 represents a plan view of my novel skylight or floorlight.

Similar numerals of reference indicate kcorresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings rn The framework of my novel construction 1.5.form-edf 0f relefQred concrete, with the reinforcements extending;through the concrete et right angles to each othe1 und the depth of thereinforced concrete and the character oi' the reinforcements end theirarrangement inay obviously vary in accordance With the requirements nietwith in practice, l

The reinforced concrete construction is thus in the torni oityreinforced concrete ln carrjiig out my invention, 'I employ 'tor thelenses either annczilei'l rolled glass or annealed rolled Wired glasswhich fire cut to the desired contour at any desireigl stage `in themanufacture ot the sheet, und are supported upon the inwardlyprojecting.; le or flanges oi" the lens holder, the idees ol 'ie lensbeing 4` ovided With means which will car-.se the elastic or sealingcoinpound to lgiroperly adhere thereto, thereby melting a 'Water tightjoint, und this novel construction will also prevent the glass lens'troni becoming loose.

ln uddition, l preferably roughen or ser rate the `inner i"'sice ot' theVertical Well the .lens holder, so that the s tiling' coin-poen( will inpractice udhere directly thereto, an( be inter-locked therewith.

ln addition, in practice, the terminals ot the Wires forming; the Wiren'iesh -iihich embedded in the rolled Wired lens :irc lett to projec :isli-ort distance, so that they torni a. connecting' iii-cans, Which Willhe embedded for a short distance inthe sealing compound or 'the coatingcompound on the edges of the lens. l have shown souci-:ilenibz'idiinents ol" iny present rnvenw tionr` and in Figure l, ldesignates the rolled, annealed srl ass lens having' sppliet l to theedges thereof a coating; or coin ound indicated at 2, which will causethe elastic or see-ling; coinpound indicated :it to properly adhere soes to malte li- Water tight ljoint and also prevent the @ness tromhecofningr loose alter installation, 'llhe relutively Vthin-metalliclens holder Iis indicated :it VVV't and is provided with. u horizontalor laterally project-ing ledge or flange 5 upon 'which the lens issupported und a vertical well t3, which latter is preferably serratedo'r roughened i. s et 7, said lens holder being; ated in the reinforcedconcrete 8. ln Figure y2 l have shownV the lens holder 4t provided Withthe 'horizontal 'and Vertical ineinbers 5 and 6 of the saine characteras already described, as supporting the -anneoled rolled :Wired glasslens 9, the Wire wesh vbeing indicated at I Oand vthe ends 1l ofthevwires "being shown as projecting slightly as best seen in Figure G. InFigure 2, l here shown the inner surface of the vertical Well 6 assinooth, WhilA in Figure il, l have shown said Wall as roughened asineicated at 7, the other parte in Figure 3 beingl the saine, as seen inFigure 2.

ln Figure et, l have shown u rolled anheeled gloss lens l ot the sainechuincte` es seen in Figure l, the edge of' said lens l O0 Hg coatedwith material. 2 ot the charalready described, which surrounued by thesealing' conipound l2, which seats into the annular groove 13 seen inthe lens holder 14;, which is provided with the late al portion or .edge'15, upon which the lens is supported, .ln Figure 5, l have shown a lensholder lli of the saine character, as seen in Figure et, upon Which therolled, annealed Wirot glass lens 9 is supported, the edges of thelatter being enclosed Aby the seuli'ngr conipound l2 oic the sainecha-u'- acter an seen in Figure 4:.

l ain :zware that it has vheretofore been proposed to employ inconjunctionl with a lens holder a lens oft inolded glass, and that ithas heretofore been proposed to place a large pane of wired gloss inaarge opening in a iness concrete, 'the edges ot said glass being' ecureddirectly in the concrete. This structure however cannot in practice bewe lted on, and is di Herent structiu'ally and :functionally from `mypresent invention,

l aiu, hor-sever, the tiret in the artvto cinploy :i lens formed frein arolled. inner-ded sheet of glass in a inet-allie lens holder ot thecharacter described, and l ain the i'i st in the art to `en'iploy a lenscomposed olf uuneuled, rolled sheet glass, in fonjunotiou with the.coating material interposed between the edge oi the lens and 'thesealing.;` compound, ''or the purposes stated. l

l ain also the ,iii :t in the art to employ a lens inado 'troni rolled:inicaled Wired g; Qs haring' :'hc nire terminals inoiecfi 5;' ,e 'i

i the edges of the lens, und said edges coated with a material or thechuincter'described adlie to the contacting; sealing' compound, whichletter engages 'the serrated inner l'lace'oi'' 'the vertical wall ot thelens holder, `wlmreby the lens is innnovably secured in position and aWater tight and durable construction is produced. 'i

By iny present construction and by t utilization oi. rolled annealed'Wired fla r lenses haring` the characteristics described, a niuchstronger and more durable construction than fl eretofore is produced,and it a ylens becoines shattered or broken` it een be `removed freinits lens holder by `unskilled labor and readily replaced With a new one,so that the efficiency and durability of the construction can all timesbe maintained et a minimum of cost The rolled annealed `lenses can heremoved Without injuring the .reinforced l'con-crete framework, sincevsaid lli) lenses are carried by their respective metallic lens holders,which arev not liable to injury when a broken glass is being removed.

The Wired glass lenses can be made from Waste rolled annealed sheets forwhich at the present time there is no use, and the rolled sheet glassitself` is much cheaper than pressed or molded glass and in addition therolled sheet glass being of a more uniform thickness enables a moreuniform annealing than can be obtained in pres ed or molded glass, whichis usually of uneven thickness and contour.

It will be obvious that the Wire terminals or projections l1 best seenin Figure 6, fords additional anchoring or locking means to efl'ect thesecuring of the lens in place, and said terminals preferably extend intothe sealing compound 3, when the installation is completed.

It will now be apparent that l have de vised a novel and useful skylightand floorlilght construction which embodies the features of advantageenumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the abovedescription, and While ll have, in the present instance, shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practicesatisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that suchembodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars Withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing anyof its advantages.

Having thus described my invention,L what I claim as new and use-ful anddesire to secure by Letters llatent, is

l. ln a device of the character stated, a reinforced concrete framework, having lens receiving` openings therein, metallic lens holdersembedded in the concrete, in the upper portions of said openings, andhaving their upper edges, substantially on a line with the top of saidconcrete frame work, an inwardly extending flange on said lens holders,relatively thin lenses formed of rolled, annealed Wired glass positionedvWithin said lens holders, and supported on said inwardly extendingflanges, the terminals of the Wires in said lenses project ing from theldges thereof, and a sealing compound interposed between said coatingand the contiguous u'alls of said lens holders.

2. In a device of the character stated, a reinforced concrete frameWork, having lens receiving openings therein, metallic lens holdersembedded in the concrete, in the upper portions of said openings, andhaving their upper edges, substantially on a line with the top of saidconcrete frame Work, an inwardly extending flange on said lens holders,relatively thin lenses, formed of Wired glass positioned Within saidlens holders, and supported on said inwardly extending flanges, theterminals of the Wires in said lenses projecting from the edges thereof,and a sealing compound in terposed between said lenses and thecontiguous Walls of said lens holders.

3. A lens for sine ivall and floor light construction, composed ofrolled, annealed Wired glass, the terminals of the Wire mesh in saidglass projecting from the edges of the lens.

a. In a device of the character stated, af

reinforced concrete frame Work having lens receiving` openings therein,metallic lens holders having vertical and horizontal walls embedded inthe upper portions of said openings and having their upper edgessubstantially aligning with the top of said. concrete, roughenedsurfaces en the inner vertical Walls of said lens holders, lensescomposed of relatively thin rolled, annealed glass having integral edgeanchoring elements, supported upon said lens holders and a sealingcompound intermediate the sides of said lenses and the vertical Walls ofsaid lens holders, and having its outer portions interlocled with saidroughened vertical surfaces.

LOGAN 1i/VULLA. RD MULFORD.

